a californian postcard from a london girl

It's the quintessential shot of California... and I saw it... felt it and then captured it.

What have you been shooting lately?

The silhouette and reflection of the surfer are my favourite part... Don't forget tomorrow's prompt is reflection.

Happy Friday!

playing with polaroid

A great opportunity popped up London last month - a Polaroid workshop run by Cyrus Mahboubian with the Impossible Project and Rough Trade. My friend Kirstin told me about it and today she's sharing her experience here. The workshop offered a little bit of history of polaroid and what The Impossible Project have been up to the past few years. We looked at other polaroid artists and were shown tips on shooting - like shielding your photo as it pops out, although there was much excitement about recent the launch of the new film, but it wasn't available at the time. Then you get given a pack of film from the Impossible Project as part of the workshop ready for a photowalk. 

20 of us headed out into the glimmering sun and dreamy blue skies, all giddy with excitement and ready to shoot. A photo can be taken at every turn of the Brick Lane area in East London, it's so cool; a mix of bars & restaurants and market stalls, with graffiti and colour everywhere. We took photos of each other and random things found. It really was liberating knowing that we should just play and shoot our 8 frames of instant film, just experiment and learn from each other… and embrace all results, perfect or not, as part of the learning experience. It was fabulous to see what everyone shot; a mini exhibition spread across the cafe table at Rough Trade.

Here are my four favourite polaroids of the day… I'm so excited to shoot more when I'm at Oasis in a couple of weeks with the other polaroid sisters. Yay!

What have you done with your photography lately that's different from your usual routine? Have you played and experimented with something out of your comfort zone? please share with us today.

If you'd like more information about other polaroid workshops in your city, please visit the Impossible Project calendar - there's even another one in London next week. If you can't take part in a workshop, why not gather some other photographers and take a photowalk of your own.

one seed

One seed… One idea... One little bit of hope…

All it takes is a seed of an idea to spark something you can nurture and grow.

What seed do you have in your head? What creative project, practical idea, hope or dream would you like to grow. Share with us here today.

Today you could start to make it happen.

Trust the process. Make your acorn grow into a mighty oak.

be the change

It was so interesting to read where Paige was yesterday… I've been feeling a tap on the shoulder from that visitor, Mister "self doubt".

It happens every now and then, sometimes taking me by surprise and other times I can see exactly where it's come from.

What can we do when we feel overwhelmed as artists by self doubt?.

Here are a few things I do -

• Talk it through with someone who will just listen, not judge. (They may even have been through this feeling before)

• If you don't have someone to talk it through with -  write it down - the power of putting it out there is sometimes remedy enough.

• Find a mantra or a quote - there is comfort in words… always remember... I am enough.

• Stand barefoot on the grass, connect with nature and feel in the moment. Breathe.

Tell me… tell others visiting here - let's gather an arsenal of weapons/actions to blast through self doubt. What do you do? What mantras do you hold close?…what do we need to come out beaming on the other side.

what are you cooking?

I love cooking... Do you? This is one of my favourite salads coming together.

Can't wait to see what you've cooked today, tag your images with #sselevate & share with us the feast on your table.